This Project is aimed at helping provide education, therapy and care for children with Multiple Disabilities and Vision Impairment (MDVI).
It is estimated that there are over five million children have MDVI, out of which only a small fraction of the children have access to the right kind of services. And only 0.5 % of children receive specialized educational services. Thus, there is a huge requirement of well structured Services for such Special Children which is accessible to all strata of society to identify their latent potential and empower them to be a part of an inclusive society.
In Mumbai there are as much as 100,000 children with MDVI , who need access to appropriate affordable services which are customized and comprehensive.
We, Rotary club of Deonar, propose to partner with Muskan Foundation which is based in Mumbai and have 3 centers with a fourth coming up at the Masina Hospital in the near future . Muskan Foundation is dedicated to the cause of children with MDVI since 2007. Their association children having MDVI started under the leadership of Mrs. Dipti Gandhi who brought a new lease of life for children with multiple disabilities. The main objective of this venture was to bridge the gap in schools and education centers, which are usually not equipped to handle multiple disabilities along with blindness. Muskan Foundation aims to provide a spectrum of customized services ranging from early intervention, education, therapy, counseling and MDVI awareness - all under one roof. The foundation commenced its work with a small group of 4 children, which has swelled to 104 students in three centers and more than 200 children receiving regular therapy. For further information please refer to their website http://muskanfoundation.org.in/
The main objectives of this Global Grant Project are :
1. To help bridge the gap due to inadequate services for MDVI Underprivileged Children by providing therapy and special education services
2. To enhance the quality of life of children with MDVI by providing holistic and cost effective services under one roof
3. Educating and Empowering the parents of children with MDVI
Rotary Deonar will be active in helping Muskan Foundation set up a new center at Masina Hospital which has invited Muskan Foundation to provide these services within the hospital premises. Thus infrastructure in terms of space is available and till date 20 children in need of treatment are identified.
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